Election 2018: Palumbo wins big in GOP primary for Assembly

With all 89 districts reporting, Mr. Palumbo had secured 80 percent of the votes, according to unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections. The total vote was 2,740-641.

Mr. Palumbo, of New Suffolk, will be challenged by Democratic nominee Rona Smith of Greenport in November’s election. Mr. Palumbo was first elected to the Assembly seat in a special election in 2013.

“This was a bit of a roller coaster with the primary being on, then off and so many different layers to it,” Mr. Palumbo said. “We basically campaigned for the general election from the beginning anyway. I’ve been campaigning all summer and I made some slight adjustments for the primary.”

Mr. Palumbo was going to be on November’s ballot on the Conservative and Independence lines regardless of Thursday’s GOP primary.

“Fortunately this was a nice comfortable win, so it’s off we go to the general election,” said Mr. Palumbo, who declined to declare victory Thursday night until it was mathematically locked up.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary against challenger Cynthia Nixon. The Associated Press called the race at 9:30 p.m. Mr. Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro in November’s election. There was no GOP primary for governor.

Mr. Cuomo secured 65 percent of the votes.

In the Democratic race for Suffolk County Surrogate Court Judge, Theresa Whelan of Wading River defeated Tara Scully of Setauket. Ms. Whelan secured nearly 65 percent of the votes.

There are two candidates running for Family Court Judge, but the primary only involves the Women’s Equality party line. Karen Kerr led the voting 14-3 against Richard Hoffmann.

In the race for lieutenant governor, incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul has 53 percent of the vote against Jumaane Williams with 97 percent of districts reporting.

Four candidates were running in a primary for attorney general. Letitia James emerged victorious with 40 percent of the votes. She defeated Sean Patrick Maloney (31 percent), Zephyr Teachout (25 percent) and Leecia Eve (4 percent).